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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
80 Imaging
61 Features
88 Overall
71
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67 Imaging
45 Features
35 Overall
41

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Renewed by OM System OM-5
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Previous Model is Panasonic LZ30
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic LZ40, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the LZ40 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and LZ40 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 III was unveiled 5 years after the LZ40 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-M5 III scores vs the LZ40 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Panasonic LZ40

		

		

			
 E-M5 III LZ40 
AnnouncedOctober 2019January 2014Newer by 71 months
Manually focus  Very precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen  Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen  Quickly navigate
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Olympus E-M5 III

		

		

			
 LZ40 E-M5 III 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic LZ40

		

		

			
 E-M5 III LZ40 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
When you are intending to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III has physical dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") and a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ40 has sizing of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") with a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).
See the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic LZ40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 III vs the LZ40.
Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison
Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 III and LZ40 is 80 and 67 respectively.
Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Usually, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading through a spec sheet. The picture here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and LZ40.
As you can see, both of those cameras posses the exact same MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-M5 III has got the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field less difficult. The younger E-M5 III will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.
	
			Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ40
76
 focusing manually
 MP count decent (20 megapixels)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 provides face detect focus
 delivers RAW formats
40
 megapixel count good (20MP)
 supports face detection autofocus
 no manual focus
 cannot use external flash
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Street photography advice
Panasonic LZ40 Street photography advice
83
 fully articulated screen
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 delivers RAW formats
 supports touch to focus
 environment proofing
 good ISO range (25,600)
45
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 screen does not articulate
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
 more heavy than competition (524g)
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Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Sports photography with Panasonic LZ40
75
 great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
 silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
 high frames per second (30.0 frames/s)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 MP count decent (20 megapixels)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 provides tracking focus
 environment proofing
 supports phase detect auto focus
 not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
47
 incredible zoom range (22-924mm  42.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
 supports tracking autofocus
 very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
 lack of shutter priority mode
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography features
Panasonic LZ40 Travel photography features
77
 environment proofing
 supports bluetooth
 supports touch to focus
 MP count decent (20MP)
 selfie friendly screen
 not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
55
 megapixel count good (20MP)
 has built in flash
 relatively wide (22mm)
 great reach (924mm)
 doesn't have Timelapse mode
 more heavy than competition (524g)
 doesn't offer selfie friendly display
 slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography details
Panasonic LZ40 Landscape photography details
77
 focusing manually
 swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 nice screen size (3")
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 MP count decent (20MP)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 good ISO range (25,600)
 delivers RAW formats
 environment proofing
 not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
44
 relatively wide (22mm)
 screen is a good size (3")
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
 no manual focus
 lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
 slow max aperture (f3.0)
 very small sensor (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW format
 doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
 Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
 Panasonic LZ40 as a Vlogging camera
84
 selfie friendly screen
 touchscreen capability
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 provides face detect focus
 good video quality (4096 x 2160 pixels)
 comes with microphone jack
27
 relatively wide (22mm)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 supports face detection autofocus
 comes with external microphone socket
 slow max aperture (f3.0)
 doesn't offer selfie friendly display
 low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
 more heavy than competition (524 grams)
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic LZ40
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2019-10-17 2014-01-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures    
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
Touch focus    
Continuous autofocus    
Autofocus single    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Autofocus center weighted    
Autofocus multi area    
Autofocus live view    
Face detect focus    
Contract detect focus    
Phase detect focus    
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 22-924mm (42.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-6.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch functionality    
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1500 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 30.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.80 m
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure    
Average exposure    
Spot exposure    
Partial exposure    
AF area exposure    
Center weighted exposure    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port    
Headphone port    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 414 grams (0.91 pounds) 524 grams (1.16 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 images 320 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature    
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $1,199 $219